Thursday, July 17, 2014

Special Collections Research Center hosts UK Summer Youth Program

Students from the UK Summer Youth Program

On Wednesday, July 1, 2014, archivists in the Special Collections
Research Center (SCRC) hosted the UK Summer Youth Program. The archivists shared their work
experiences and current projects, while answering the students' questions about
what it means to be an archivist by explaining the varied aspects of the field including
technology skills, research skills, critical thinking, and data analysis.Students toured archival processing areas, the Breckinridge
Research Room, and specialized areas like the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History and the Digital Lab. After their orientation to the SCRC the students performed active learning
mini-projects utilizing archival processing skills.

Coordinated by Chuck Emps, UK HR/Student Employment Office, and funded by the
Office of the President, this year’s
annual Summer Youth Program consists of a six-week agenda introducing approximately
15 minority high school students to academic and work environments at the
University of Kentucky. The students also gain valuable work readiness skills.
During the past13 years, more than 100 young
people have participated in the program, with many attending classes at UK
following their experiences in the program. Other areas within UK Libraries, Little Fine Arts Library and Shaver Engineering Library, also sponsored students in the
program.